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(G-Stock Studio / Shutterstock.com)
Every time we listen to music, amazing neurological processes are taking place behind the scenes. Research from around the world has revealed a wide range of positive effects that music has on the brain - from increased creativity and decision making to better comprehension and more positive feelings.
And that’s not all - different types of music can affect us in different ways. Get your iPod ready, and read on to find out how.
1. HAPPY MUSIC MAKES US SEE PEOPLE IN A MORE POSITIVE LIGHT
Research from the University of London’s Department of Psychology found that listening to happy music can make us see people’s faces in a positive light - even if they’re wearing a blank facial expression.
![Woman listens to music on smartphone Woman listens to music on smartphone](/photos/620x0/23556.jpg)
Pumping the positive tunes (marjan Apostolvic / Shutterstock.com)
2. CALM TUNES ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY
Ambient music increases abstract processes in the brain, which are responsible for creative thinking - this according to research from the University of Chicago.
3. NEW MUSIC IMPROVES DRIVING SKILLS
According to research at Ben Gurion University, listening to new music - tunes that we haven’t heard before - can make us safer drivers.
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Get your boogie on for safe driving (Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com)
4. LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT IMPROVES MOTOR AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION
Children who learn to play an instrument are likely to display higher language and motor skills, according to a University of St. Andrews study.
5. CLASSICAL MUSIC HAS THERAPEUTIC POWERS
A study on stroke patients, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, revealed that the brain’s ability to process images improved among subjects who listened to classical music.
![classical music classical music](/photos/620x0/31882_hd.jpg)
Classical music has special powers (Igor Bularin / Shutterstock.com)
6. MUSIC BOOSTS PHYSICAL WORKOUTS
Moving in time with the beat makes physical workouts more effective, according to research from the US National Library of Medicine.
![Woman does push ups on sand Woman does push ups on sand](/photos/620x0/31883_hd.jpg)
Pumping iron and pumping tunes (SG SHOT / Shutterstock.com)
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This article was originally published in Hebrew on eol.co.il.